The mistress of Birmingham MP John Hemming has told how she and their five-year-old daughter are still pining for their missing cat Beauty a year after it was taken from their home.

Emily Cox said that daughter Isabel still asks after the tabby cat, which was taken by Mr Hemming’s wife Christine.

And she is pleading for anyone who may have seen the kitten in to get in touch.

Mrs Hemming was last week found guilty of stealing the cat in a burglary at Ms Cox’s Moseley home in September last year.

Details of the Yardley Liberal Democrat MP’s love triangle relationship with Mrs Hemming and Ms Cox were revealed during the trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

The MP had divided his time between Ms Cox’s home and his family home, also in Moseley, where 53-year-old town and country planner Mrs Hemming lives.

Mrs Hemming, who has three children with the MP, is due to be sentenced on October 28 for burglary.

But Ms Cox said that her main concern is now to find out what happened to Beauty.

She said: “The verdict is a relief and means we can put this behind us. Sadly we still do not know where Beauty is and our daughter is still asking about her.

“If someone believes they have taken Beauty in please, can we plead with them, to let us know, so that we can put our minds at rest and know she is safe.

“At this stage we do not feel it would be fair to Beauty to remove her if she is in a loving home.”

Ms Cox said she was thankful towards West Midlands Police, the CPS, the courts and the jury for their “efforts and professionalism” throughout the trial.

“I trust that the courts will give careful consideration to ensure that Mrs Hemming is sentenced appropriately given the circumstances of this case and her state of mind,” she said.

“Finally I hope that on reflection that Mrs Hemming will feel able to show remorse for the sadness this has caused, especially to our daughter, and that she will be able to tell us the truth about what she has done with Beauty.”

During the trial Mrs Hemming admitted: “Everything just got out of hand. I didn’t mean to enter the property.

“I left holding a kitten – there is no doubt about that – but I have no recollection of picking the kitten up.”

She said that she returned to Ms Cox’s home the next day and released the kitten. The four month-old tabby has not been seen since.